Happy New Year!

Instead of coming up with New Year's resolutions, here are a few of the things I'd like to finish this month: 1.) Our Save the Dates that we started making but had to stop because we ran out of ink and paper. Still waiting for both to be shipped.














2.) I wanted to wait for the paperback edition of The Rest is Noise to come out because hardcovers are just too heavy to carry in my work bag! I was so happy to get this for Christmas, but first I have to finish In Defense of Food.














3.) We brought my sister to the Brooklyn General in Red Hook yesterday so she could exchange some sock yarn and have it wound. I had no intention of buying anything but ended up walking out of the store with new size 9 Colonial Rosewood needles, 2 balls of handspun wool yarn, and a new project in my hands.

Pics from Eddie's 30th birthday. We celebrated at Picnic Garden in Queens where we had Korean BBQ.















Eddie was really full after dinner.
Before dinner, we went to a shooting range in Long Island.

Baking apple tart with puff pastry

From MacClure's flickr

These photos of Prince Edward Island make me want to move back to Canada again!

17 more days!!!

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I have to confess that for a political science major, I have been deliberately ignorant about politics since the onset of the recent presidential campaign-- mostly because I didn't care who won either way. And even after it was pretty clear that Obama had a very good chance of winning, one of the reasons why I still wasn't eager to jump on his bandwagon was because I was tired of hearing the word "change" uttered so many times, riling up such fervent cheers at its every mention. However, as I watched Obama deliver his victory speech last night, I want to say in the most non-partisan way that... the man has good taste in music! Obama said, "It's been a long time coming," an allusion to one of the greatest songs ever, A Change is Gonna Come, which Sam Cooke wrote after hearing Bob Dylan's Blowing in the Wind, but wrote-- and sang-- from a much deeper, personal perspective (that of a black man living in America during the 1960's). In contrast to Sam Cooke's beautiful but aching tone, last night Obama declared in a calm, steadfast voice, "Change has come to America". And so it has.

Yesterday morning, I witnessed many men and women run the ING New York City Marathon. It was fun to cheer on the runners... but it really put me to shame! I get the urge to run (for leisure-- not to the train station when I'm late for work) about once every 2 years. As inspiring as it was, I still preferred being the spectator, watching the marathon participants run past Bay Ridge Avenue from my seat at the diner as I happily finished my greasy breakfast of corned beef and home fries!

 
Vincent van Gogh. The 'Au Charbonnage' Cafe. 1878. Image from Moma

 I don't know why it took me 3 years to go to the Moma, even though I have made the trek to the corner of 53rd St. and 6th Ave. plenty of times to stand in a 2 hour line in the freezing cold for a $5 halal chicken and lamb over rice dish! The main draw was to see the Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night (sounds like a Phantom of the Opera song!) exhibition. My favorite was a small drawing called The 'Au Charbonnage' Cafe (1978), mostly because it was one of the few pieces that was not in color, and also because I stood in front of it for a good 3 minutes before sharing it with anyone else (and this is after they've already limited the amount of people allowed to view the exhibit at a given time!)

Can't get enough of Wong Kar Wai: Ashes of Time Redux with the late Leslie Cheung, playing at the Angelika. Yay, no work today! Some of my patients ask me what I do on my days off. I'd like to say that I go to museum exhibits and bike 100 miles around the city and try new restaurants. But most days, like today, I am lounging around at home in my scrubs (they're clean of course!) going through my books and magazines and thinking about doing laundry. In answer to that question, I usually mumble something like, "Oh I usually catch up on errands and do laundry" which is a pretty lame answer but it's close to the truth. But of course when I think about how lucky I am to not be stuck in the hospital, I feel like a loser for not waking up at 6 am to do laundry, bike around the neighborhood, and go to the Moma to see the Van Gogh exhibit for the rest of the day. Maybe next week. This is what I've been making lately:



 Almond Tofu Dessert

• 2 envelopes of Knox unflavored gelatin
• 1-2 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of almond extract
• 1-2 cups of soy milk or whatever kind of milk you want
• as much or little sugar as you want
• fruit (I like strawberries and canned lychees)

Combine hot water, gelatin, almond extract, and sugar in a saucepan. (Don't dump the whole envelope of gelatin at once or it will clump-- mix in slowly, using a whisk.) Stir until all the gelatin has dissolved. Add milk. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours. Serve with fruit. You can add more or less liquid depending on how firm you want the jello to be. Makes about 4 servings, but I can eat it all in one sitting.

Canoed and hiked at the Adirondacks on Sunday. A friend described this pic as "gloomy". I guess it depends on your point of view. The photo doesn't compare to actually being there in person, but I still think it's beautiful.

Dragonfruit-- what a nice treat after a day at work. And dinner too! Thanks, Neil. Now that I'm off work, I can't stop replaying everything that has happened during my 12-hour shift. Did I forget something? Did I do something incorrectly? How could I have answered differently? Was there a different way for me to handle that situation? I hope nothing I did causes any discomfort for the patients or grief for the next nurse. I analyze everything. Unfortunately, I don't get a lot of time to actually do that during my shift. My whole day consists of trying to complete my tasks: hang IVs, give meds, check lab results, change dressings and drains, assess, document, teach, order supplies, discharge and admit patients... I have to constantly remind myself of what needs to be done while keeping up with patient requests and relaying information to other health-care practitioners and hospital staff. Nothing else can really get processed through my brain right now, which is why I am watching the presidential debate but not really hearing anything they are saying. So I will blog. I had 3 patients recovering from surgery and 3 that came in with complications. Two of them were from other floors and had respiratory infections, which meant I had to put on gloves, gown, and mask everytime I entered the room (important but time comsuming-- I had to stay 2 hours after my shift ended yesterday.) My floor is specific for gastric cancers/tumors, so I am not comfortable taking care of patients with other types of cancers, especially if they have a lot of complications and breathing problems (chest tubes, pneumonia, etc.) like my 2 patients today. But I got through the day. And I learned a lot. And I really liked (most of) my patients. It was a good day overall, but I am definitely looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. My five days off in Toronto went by quickly. Aside from watching dvds at home, we went out to eat and spent some time with friends who recently returned from the Peace Corps. It was Thanksgiving in Canada but... who really cares! All I know was that there was enough traffic on Friday to crush my plans of going to Algonquin to see the fall foliage. At least we watched Burn After Reading-- my only other plan for the weekend-- and was not disappointed. Now the debate has ended. I thought it was interesting, didn't you think so too? I heard something about Joe the Plumber...

I have 5 days off of work in a row, so I took advantage of this rare opportunity to go back to Canada again. First thing we did was go to Wok on Yonge for a Cantonese take on afternoon tea. Three types of steamed shrimp dumplings, fried mantou with smoked salmon, chicken pie, egg rolls, and scones. A variety of teas but we stuck with traditional Chinese-- Pu Li and Oolong. Every time I come home to Toronto, I put The Big Lebowski DVD on but I'm usually so tired that I end up falling asleep somewhere shortly after the Dude and Walter attempt to make the exchange with the kidnappers and... end up going bowling. Well, today I sat through the whole thing... now I want to go bowling. But we will continue with the DVDs and watch Othello instead.

It's been one week since I left the Philippines and now have some time to post some pics from my trip. Below, the view from our apartment in Santa Cruz.



At a "dampa", or wet market, at Seaside Macapagal Blvd. where my aunt haggled with tinderas for fish, shrimp, clams, and crabs, which we took to Josefina's Garden Grill Paluto, one of the many restaurants next to the market, to have cooked for our lunch. A fun experience for balikbayans (Philippine nationals who return to their home country) like me. The cooking was good, though I felt a little queazy afterwards. I wouldn't call it fresh seafood... or maybe I just have a weak "foreign" stomach!



Here are the jeepneys that I mentioned before in a previous post. Cost: 8.5 pesos. Breathing in diesel fumes, enjoying the local scenery, and sharing a bumpy ride with loved ones: priceless. Now I wish I also took a picture-- no, a video-- of my ride through the bumpy streets of Chinatown on a bicycle rickshaw.



What visit to the Philippines would be complete without a meal at Jollibee's? Famous fried chicken and Filipino-style spaghetti, sweet and with hot dogs. Yum!

We've all heard that food travels on average 1,500 miles to reach your plate (which may or not be accurate). Six days ago, my grandpa bought mamon (Filipino sponge cake) from Red Ribbon Bake Shop in Binondo, Manila, which I hand-carried through a 2-hour stopover at the Hong Kong International Airport and over to Toronto, where I stayed for 2 days before flying to Newark, carried home to Brooklyn and brought to work with me the next day for the nurses on my floor to eat. A long journey for mamon to travel and for me to carry-- over 9,000 miles-- all to find out today that there is a Red Ribbon Bake Shop in Jersey City, 10 miles from where I live!

Search suspended until further notice!!!

How hard can it be to find someone to take care of my grandma? The first caregiver that showed up at our door only weighed 78 pounds. My grandma is 108. The second one we interviewed cost too much. The third one ended up telling me she couldn't come to work anymore because she had just found out she was pregnant. The fourth one came with her boyfriend to the interview, had too many requests (days off, salary requirements, etc.) and when asked why she had quit her secretary job the week earlier, responded, "it was too boring." Oh, I'm sure taking care of an 80 year old will be full of excitement and adventure. The last one I thought was going to be a good fit. After all, she told me she could do everything. Walang problema! I have years of experience... But within 5 minutes of arriving for the first day of work, she told me she didn't have enough to pay rent this month and asked if I could give her an advancement so that her daughter and grand-daughter (whom she also brought along with her) would have a roof over their heads. I have enough troubles of my own-- does it say somewhere on my forehead that I need more?!?! Back out the door she went. And so it is... life in the Philippines. We haven't had phone service for 4 days now. Two technicians came by yesterday, but not only did it still not work, the internet went down as well. But today, we gave them money while they were fidgiting with the wires. And all of a sudden, everything works perfectly! Haha...

I finally have internet!!!

I am in the Philippines, and now I know what it's like to not have internet or phone for 2 weeks. It's been 4 years since I've travelled anywhere outside of North America that I forgot what it's like not being able to understand anything anyone else is saying (a lot of people can speak to me in English-- but I still can't understand what they are saying amongst themselves!), not having a car and not being able to travel by myself lest I be held up at knifepoint or have the seams of my back pocket cut apart and my money stolen without my being aware of it, or so my relatives say. However true it may be, I am in foreign territory... And this is why I don't like traveling! Sigh. I've been here for 2 weeks and will be here for at least 2 more. I have pics, but no way to upload them. One step at a time... I'm just happy to have internet again. Last night, I found a white hair about 3 inches long... sprouting from my cheek! It's probably my body's strange way of reacting to the hostile, i mean, different environment. The constant sweating, only relieved by cold showers (i have no choice) and megamalls; the constant smell of deisel; sharing the road with cars, jeepneys (google it), tricycles, pedicabs, horse carriages (yes, i could use a horse and buggie as a mode of transportation if i felt so inclined), motorcycles, pedestrians, and 4-year old squeegy kids. It's not that I'm shocked. After all, I was born here. I just feel a little helpless. Where do I buy a phone card? Right down the street, but wait! someone has to go with you. Can't I go there myself? No, they'll rip you off as soon as you open your mouth. Oh. Other short conversations go like this: Um, can you speak English please? I don't understand tagalog. Oh, are you Korean? No, I'm not Korean, I come from Canada. Really? You don't look like a Canadian. No, I was born here in Manila. Then why can't you speak tagalog? Arghh. BECAUSE I'M CHINESE!!! But I thought you were Canadian...

Wang Peng, ni ming tian mang bu mang?



Still trying to brush up on my Mandarin =) Had a fun weekend with family and friends from California and NY. We ate lots of Chinese food, visited Niagara Falls, and went to the Chinese Lantern Festival at Ontario Place.

 I found something to cheer me up a little-- cream puffs! Forty-seven percent of the daily value for saturated fat-- this means I can have 8 cream puffs a day and still be healthy! It's strange how I can react so differently to the same situation depending on how I am feeling. Some days, when I drive by an accident, I am so filled with empathy that I could almost cry. Other days, like today, all I think is, "You idiot." Stupid hormones. Argh. And I feel bad for thinking that because I know it could very well be me in that position, especially realizing today that our car is making strange grinding noises, which become louder when braking and when starting to accelerate... it's very disconcerting. Ah, well. Tomorrow's worries. Must lay my weary head down now. =P

Too bad I can't order this M. Carter shirt anymore.


If you don't have children yet, you can remind yourself of why it's best not to propagate by watching Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, which we saw last night. Sorry, Charles. I know how you were looking forward to planning Easter egg parties for my future little ones. Plan no more. Sorry for the dreary mood, folks.

So the UN has called Toronto the most diverse city in the world. While I have always been fascinated by Toronto's multiculturalism, I know this claim may be hard to believe. After all, Toronto should be no different than any other large metropolitan city. But every time I'm here, I notice minute details that not only convince me that the claim is probably true, but also that Toronto embraces it's diversity unlike any other city (that I've ever experienced at least). While buying candy from the convenience store across the street from where I live, I noticed that they also sell an interesting mix of fast foods-- beef patties, spring rolls, and samosas. Maybe insignificant to people that live here, but interesting to me :)

I couldn't resist a photo op when my sister started cutting out paper puppets of the presidential candidates. Yes, there are probably a lot of things to do in Toronto... but this is how we choose to entertain ourselves. You can make your own too at www.folduscandidate.com Let's not forget about Hillary. Written on the back of her delicately folded torso: "I'm in and I'm in to win."

Went to a wedding at a yacht club in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The bride and I were roommates in Beijing when we taught English there during the summer of 2004. We reconnected in NY but the couple left for Turkey shortly after I arrived. They now live in Taiwan. Staying for the weekend, had some time to drive around and explore. Sturgeon Bay is one of the towns of Door County, a peninsula on the east shore of Lake Michigan. Went to a state park, local farmer's markets (where I discovered popcorn on the cob), and drove past the towns along the coast.



Stayed with the groom's neighbor, who recommended eating at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant. The towns of the peninsula reflect the Scandinavian cultures of mostly Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, German and Belgian immigrants. I ordered the Swedish Pancake Special, with Swedish meatballs and eggs over medium. The pancake was light, thin, and served with lingonberries (I couldn't wait to taste it and had to cover my bite with the fork for the picture!)



Flying out of Green Bay, WI. I believe that's Lambeau Field stadium, home to the Green Bay Packers. I know, I'm such a tourist.

C'est tres jolie, non?

My sister made this clutch for me. So pretty!

Tofu Hua

Sweet tofu with a thin syrup laced with ginger, served at a Cantonese late-night snack and dessert place. You gotta love the name of this eatery-- Health, Herb, Harmony. Around this area, I sometimes feel like I'm in Hong Kong and that I (being an English speaker) am the one that's in the minority!

I recently watched Reign On Me and I'm Not There and although I didn't think they were very good movies, they've inspired me to listen to The River again, as well as to revisit countless Bob Dylan songs from my long-ignored collection. Some things you may not know about me: 1. I have 14 Bruce Springsteen albums 2. I have 11 Bob Dylan albums 3. I've seen them both in concert I want to confess that I ran over a squirrel yesterday while driving home. I swerved but still managed to run it over, and saw it's tail twitching in the air from my rear view mirror. I am horrible. Horrible.

I really like driving around Toronto in the summertime, even on a cloudy day. I like looking at old houses, watching trains go by, and passing by places that our mother used to take us to-- like parks and libraries and playgrounds. Maybe one of these days we'll actually get out the car and walk around.

Flower Pic

Double Red Peony From this book I found at a used bookstore. I've been looking at various flower drawings/graphics for ideas for my wedding invitations. Right now, I really like peonies.

Yes, I'm knitting again

Just watched The Savages (2007) with my sister. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney, playing brother and sister, were brilliant as always. The story's about how they face caring for their elderly, demented father but is filled with so many hilarious moments.

Stopped by a farmer's market today, where I saw these lovely teacups.

I assumed the weather in Toronto would be pretty similar to NYC's, but it's not nearly as muggy or hot here. Cool, breezy, and sunny. Listening to this mix while drinking a milk tea.

Oh, Canada

I'm back home in Toronto. Home, as in where my family is, not where my things are. It's 2 in the morning and I just want to say:

1. I'm glad to be with my family again.
2. It's weird/nostalgic to be in Toronto again.
3. I miss my fiance. Already.

After landing, on ferry from Toronto City Centre Airport

Brooklyn Botanical & Thoughts on My Impending Deportation

Went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden last week with my friend Dan.

Getting ready to leave my home in Brooklyn for an indefinite period. I will be heading back to Canada to await a new work visa. I keep joking that I'm being deported, but since I'm leaving within the given grace period and not illegally overstaying, should I rather say that it's more like... um, an exile? Apparently, I need to be screened by this agency called the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools... even though I graduated from NYU! Anyways, although I was upset at first, since I was still on orientation (a 3-month-long training as a new nurse before working without supervision), it gave me an unexpected vacation. The only downside, besides the obvious lack of income, is that this will set me back a few months in getting my very valuable first year experience. Not that I would want to work anywhere else, since I work at great hospital :) but in case I would ever have to work in Canada or something awful like that ;)



Well, because of the recent turn of events, I was able to visit my relatives in California and make it to my cousin's graduation from UCI. Above, a drawing of hers that arrived in my mailbox yesterday (I forgot to take it with me), which was inspired by Filipino artist BenCab's work.

Flower Pic of the Day

What I mean is, flower pic for today. Flower pic period. Because it's not going to be a daily thing. Anyways, you get it. Peonies (1984)

Getting Ready for 4th of July Weekend

... which means prepping for Neil's 4th of July catering event! Went to Costco yesterday and heading out to Fairway in a few minutes with our extensive shopping list. Some of my favorite hors d'oeuvres from the menu for tomorrow's party:

• Salmon Tar Tar with Faux Wasabi Caviar
• Crabcakes with Avocado & Red Peppers
• Truffled Mushroom Puff Pastry

So far, in a very good mood as I just got off the phone with a friend from nursing school whom I haven't talked to in a few months. When I heard her voice, I just missed her so much. (Wish you were part of my daily life again, L.) Off to Fairway we go.